New York man admits shooting 2

Edwin Aybar to serve at least 11 years for firing on pair in Bethlehem apartment.

June 09, 2011|By Kevin Amerman, OF THE MORNING CALL

A New York City man known as "Wildchild" will serve at least 11 years in prison after admitting this week he shot two men — one in the face — during a robbery last year in west Bethlehem.

Edwin Aybar, 24, of Bronx N.Y., pleaded guilty Wednesday to robbery and two counts of aggravated assault, all felonies. In return for the plea, two counts each of attempted homicide, simple assault, reckless endangerment and terroristic threats were dropped as well as illegal firearm charges.

Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jay Jenkins said Aybar will serve at least 11 years in prison under the deal. Aybar's maximum sentence could be as much as 40 years, Jenkins said.

Shortly after, officers were called to St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill because a man — later identified as Planas — had been dropped off there with a gunshot wound to his face. A second gunshot victim — Rosario — arrived at St. Luke's Hospital-Allentown.

According to court documents:

Police interviewed Rosario, who lived at the apartment and had been shot in the left shoulder. He told police he was home when Planas and a man he didn't know came over.

At some point, the man he didn't know — Aybar — grabbed him by the hair, started pistol-whipping him in the face and then shot him. Once on the ground, Rosario heard more gunshots and saw that Planas had been shot.

Planas told police he only knew the man by his street name of Wildchild. He said Wildchild made a comment about Rosario having nice sneakers, then stood up, pulled a gun and told him, "You know what this is."

Rosario yelled at the gunman and they started fighting, then Aybar shot Rosario. Wildchild turned to Planas and said, "No witnesses," and shot him in the face.

Through the investigation, police said, they identified Wildchild as Aybar.

Aybar has been in Lehigh County Prison without bail since his May 27 arrest.

According to court documents, Aybar told Bethlehem detectives, "I shot the two … I shot both of them. I should have killed them."

Jenkins said both victims have recovered from their wounds.

Aybar is scheduled to be sentenced next month by Judge James T. Anthony.